1. Ability to use oral fluid and fingerstick HIV self-testing (HIVST) among South African MSM
- Author
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Kabelo Maleke, Tim Lane, Nkuli Mlotshwa, Oscar Radebe, Yea-Hung Chen, Hailey J. Gilmore, Sheri A. Lippman, James McIntyre, and Albert Manyuchi
- Subjects
Male ,RNA viruses ,Physiology ,Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) ,lcsh:Medicine ,Social Sciences ,HIV Infections ,Pilot Projects ,Surveys ,medicine.disease_cause ,Pathology and Laboratory Medicine ,Geographical locations ,Men who have sex with men ,Sexual and Gender Minorities ,South Africa ,0302 clinical medicine ,Immunodeficiency Viruses ,Sociology ,Medicine and Health Sciences ,Mass Screening ,Psychology ,030212 general & internal medicine ,lcsh:Science ,Generalized estimating equation ,Multidisciplinary ,Social Research ,3. Good health ,Test (assessment) ,Body Fluids ,Blood ,Medical Microbiology ,Research Design ,Viral Pathogens ,Viruses ,Pathogens ,Anatomy ,0305 other medical science ,Research Article ,Adult ,medicine.medical_specialty ,Fingerstick ,Black People ,Men WHO Have Sex with Men ,Research and Analysis Methods ,Microbiology ,03 medical and health sciences ,Statistical significance ,Retroviruses ,medicine ,Humans ,Sexual Identity ,Serologic Tests ,Homosexuality, Male ,Microbial Pathogens ,Mass screening ,030505 public health ,Survey Research ,business.industry ,lcsh:R ,Lentivirus ,Organisms ,HIV ,Biology and Life Sciences ,Usability ,Self Care ,Family medicine ,People and Places ,Africa ,lcsh:Q ,Population Groupings ,business ,Sexuality Groupings - Abstract
Background HIV self-testing (HIVST) may increase HIV testing uptake, facilitating earlier treatment for key populations like MSM who experience barriers accessing clinic-based HIV testing. HIVST usability among African MSM has not been explored. Methods We assessed usability of oral fluid (OF) and fingerstick (FS; blood) HIVST kits during three phases among MSM with differing degrees of HIVST familiarity in Mpumalanga, South Africa. In 2015, 24 HIVST-naive MSM conducted counselor-observed OF and FS HIVST after brief demonstration. In 2016 and 2017, 45 and 64 MSM with experience using HIVST in a pilot study chose one HIVST to conduct with a counselor-observer present. In addition to written, the latter group had access to video instructions. We assessed frequency of user errors and reported test use ease, changes in error frequency by phase, and covariates associated with correct usage using log-Poisson and Gaussian generalized estimating equations. Results Among OF users (n = 57), 15–30% committed errors in each phase; however, observers consistently rated participants as able to test alone. Among FS users (n = 100), observers noted frequent errors, most commonly related to blood collection and delivery. We found suggestive evidence (not reaching statistical significance) that user errors decreased, with 37.5%, to 28.1%, and 18.2% committing errors in phases I, II, and III, respectively (p-value:0.08), however observer concerns remained constant. Ease and confidence using HIVST increased with HIV testing experience. Participants using three HIVST were more likely (RR:1.92, 95% CI:1.32, 2.80) to report ease compared to those without prior HIVST experience. Never testers (RR:0.66, 95% CI:0.44–0.99) reported less ease performing HIVST compared to participants testing in the past six months. Conclusions MSM were able to perform the OF test. Fingerstick test performance was less consistent; however preference for fingerstick was strong and performance may improve with exposure and instructional resources. Continued efforts to provide accessible instructions are paramount.
- Published
- 2018